Family not letting fallen soldier’s memory fade

Tuesday

Aug 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMAug 28, 2007 at 9:41 AM

CANTON, Ohio -- Scott Warner wants to make certain the sacrifice his teenage son made for his country is never forgotten.

Ed Balint

Scott Warner wants to make certain the sacrifice his teenage son made for his country is never forgotten.
Pvt. Heath D. Warner, 19, achieved his dream of becoming a U.S. Marine, but the McKinley High School graduate was killed by an explosive device in the Al Anbar province in Haqlaniya, Iraq, last November.
Traditional ways of honoring the memory of a fallen soldier have included planting trees, erecting flags and posting plaques. But the elder Warner yearned for another way, a very lasting way to keep his son’s memory alive.
“My biggest fear is that Heath is going to be forgotten, and I have this fear of his picture being in a display case somewhere at a school or whatever, and over the years it just stayed and his memory fades,” he said.
An endowment has been established. A 5K Memorial Run is planned. Now a Web site has been launched, dedicated to Warner, who used an American flag as the backdrop for his senior high school portrait.
The Web site is: www.pvtheathwarner.com/.
Heath’s father also wants to get across the true meaning and cost of freedom.
For many people, “life goes on. People are detached from the war; the war is something that happens over there and they don’t understand what it costs,” he said. “They don’t understand that the cost is very high and it takes the lives of our sons and daughters and husbands and wives and dads and moms.”
Tribute Trend
Across the country, Internet memorials have become commonplace, some more elaborate than others. They include Web sites honoring all of the fallen soldiers in Iraq, such as the Fallen Heroes Memorial at www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/ and In Remembrance, which honors American service members, at www.legacy.com. Crime victims also are memorialized online. Funeral homes and Web sites specializing in memorials also are the trend.
Jerry Jodrey, president of Ohio Fallen Heroes in Sunbury, which formed in 2005 and dedicated a memorial in June honoring all of the Ohio soldiers lost in Iraq, Afghanistan and the war on terror, agreed that Internet-based memorials are growing in popularity.
“That is part of the healing process,” Jodrey said. “Families that No. 1 supported their child who went to the service (and) who gave their life up to defend their country and ways of life (are) thinking what that solider was doing not only for their family, but for all Americans.”
Honoring Heath
On the opening page of the Web site, Warner, stern-faced, clean-shaven and dressed in his Marine uniform, is pictured, with the backdrop of an unfurling American flag. Next to the image reads: “He died Thinking of Us. We Live Thinking of Him.”
Under the section titled, “Honoring our Hero,” it adds: “We will never forget you Heath. Your love, your memories, your laughter are still part of us and will be forever. Our hearts ache as we learn to live without you here with us.
“... God took you in his arms and left a hero in your place. Our hope is that this website will connect you with the history, memories and legacy of our beloved Heath.”
While planning the Web site, created by a professional Web site designer, Scott Warner set out to make it more than a quickie stop in cyberspace.
“I wanted people to get a feel for who Heath was, what his life was about, how we felt about him, and I wanted there to be a place to archive the events surrounding his life,” Warner said.
Coping with the Loss
Paying tribute to Heath via computer also is another way for the family to grapple with the pain of losing a loved one. Along with his father and mother, Melissa, Heath left behind two younger brothers, Ashton and Chandler.
“We fumble forward every day and we do the best we can,” Scott Warner said. “This is an absolutely grueling experience; I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
The guest book, where people can sign in to express sympathy, was already 25 pages long by early Monday evening. Messages include: “This site is BEAUTIFUL!!! It really took my breath away.”
Fellow Marine families offer condolences. Messages of prayer are written. Other sentiments include, “Our heart shares your loss, your grief and your hope in Christ. Jesus said there is no greater sacrifice than to lay one’s life down for another. Thank you Heath for defending freedom and making the ultimate sacrifice. May we never forget!”
Reach Canton Repository writer Ed Balint at (330) 580-8315 or ed.balint@cantonrep.com.